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Turnover doesn't change Cooper's role

Turnover doesn't change Cooper's role

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Don Cooper: "The names will change ... but nothing else does."

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- When it comes to the last-place White Sox rebuilding or retooling, with the possibility of pitchers Jake Peavy, John Danks, Jesse Crain, Matt Lindstrom and Matt Thornton being moved in the process, pitching coach Don Cooper has a theory.

"I'm always disappointed when we lose guys, but I do know that's a fact of the game. It happens," Cooper said. "We've lost guys over the years. We lost [Mark] Buehrle. If you can lose Buehrle, you can lose anybody."

Buehrle left for Miami via free agency after the 2011 season, but this current change figures to be a little bit different. General manager Rick Hahn needs to reshape this team that has underachieved since the last few weeks of the 2012 campaign and has fallen flat in 2013.

Many believe with the club's top-notch pitching, it doesn't need a full rebuilding process. Much like the change from 72-90 in 2007 to the American League Central title in 2008, these talented arms can put the South Siders in position for a quick turnaround.

But that thought process might actually have the effect of putting a band-aid on a deeper cut. It's players such as a healthy Peavy and Crain, for example, that will give the White Sox the biggest return of young, impact-type players.

Any future moves won't hamper Cooper's confidence.

"That's up to someone else to do that," said Cooper. "We are in player development. I'm not in player procurement. All I think about is our 12 guys we've got. That's where our focus, my focus has always been.

"My job never changes. The names will change and the people will change, but nothing else does."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.